Ivory Coast election 2025 heats up as President Ouattara confirms fourth-term bid, sparking protests, opposition backlash, and fears of renewed unrest

Ivory Coast election 2025 has taken a dramatic turn after President Alassane Ouattara officially announced he will seek a fourth term in October’s poll, igniting a firestorm of criticism and reviving fears of political instability.

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In a statement released Tuesday, the 83-year-old president insisted his decision was necessary to “preserve national stability amid ongoing security and economic challenges.”

He dismissed concerns about his age or health, declaring both “irrelevant” in the face of his country’s needs.

Ouattara argues that the 2016 constitutional revision reset term limits, thereby allowing him to run again legally despite having already served three terms. His interpretation, however, is hotly contested.

The president is likely to be the frontrunner, especially after several leading opposition figures including former President Laurent Gbagbo, ex-Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and former minister Tidjane Thiam were disqualified from the race.

On Tuesday, Thiam strongly condemned Ouattara’s announcement. “This is a clear violation of our Constitution and a direct attack on democracy,” he said, adding that Ivorians would not stay silent.

Coinciding with Ouattara’s bid, authorities banned a peaceful protest planned for August 7. The rally was intended to demand the reinstatement of barred candidates and an independent audit of the electoral roll.

Ouattara, a former banker, will campaign on Ivory Coast’s economic record. The country has enjoyed over 6% annual growth for four consecutive years.

But many citizens remain deeply disillusioned with the political elite, citing corruption, rising inequality, and persistent insecurity.

Tensions surrounding candidate exclusions are stirring painful memories of past electoral violence, including the 2010–2011 post-election crisis that claimed over 3,000 lives, and the deadly protests following Ouattara’s controversial third-term run in 2020.

More than 8.7 million Ivorians are registered to vote in the October election. Civil society groups, religious leaders, and international observers have voiced growing concern over increasing political polarisation.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference issued a statement urging dialogue and calm.

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As the election approaches, all eyes are on how Ivory Coast navigates this contentious moment balancing constitutional questions, public unrest, and the fragile peace of a nation still healing from past wounds.